Maintenance Videos, FAQs & Links
New Phone Compatibility Tool!
A new tool for testing Oticon hearing aid direct streaming compatibility with Android™ and hands-free communication with Apple® phones is now available. The QR code can be used to quickly and easily determine whether your patients’ phones will allow them to access convenient connectivity benefits with their Oticon devices.
To use the tool, scan this QR code using the patient’s phone camera:
Once scanned, follow the link that appears and you will see one of three messages displayed on the patient’s phone screen:
Or click this link to see if your phone is compatible: list of compatible phones
Cleaning Your Hearing Aids Daily
Changing Domes
Changing Wax Guards
Changing Non-Rechargeable Batteries
Just like your car, your hearing aids need regular tune-ups for longer life and better function. In addition to daily cleanings at home, it is important to visit your Audiologist on a regular basis for deeper cleaning and to be sure your aids are functioning optimally for you. Check out our helpful information here and if you need to – call us at 727-584-9696 for a deep cleaning appointment.
Helpful Links
Frequently Asked Questions
I just got hearing aids, and the sound of my own voice is bothering me.
Do not take your hearing aids out! It is important to understand that there is an adjustment process that takes place with new hearing aids. If you take your hearing aids out, this process cannot occur.
Previously, you heard your voice more through the bones in your head, than through air conduction through your ear canal. That’s why a recording of your voice sounds strange when you hear it.
Now with your hearing aids, the sound of your voice is passing through the microphones in your hearing aids, through the ear canal, and on to your hearing nerve, to be passed along to your brain. It will sound to you as it sounds to those around you. The brain will adjust to hearing your voice this way, just as it does environmental sounds, so eventually it will no longer bother you.
One way to speed this process along is to read aloud for 20 minutes a day.
I just got hearing aids, and environmental sounds are bothering me. What should I do?
Do not take your hearing aids out! It is important to understand that there is an adjustment process that takes place with new hearing aids. If you take your hearing aids out, this process cannot occur.
Since your hearing loss has been progressing over time, these sounds have not traveled to your brain for processing. If your brain has not been processing sounds over an extended period of time, it can lose the ability to do so. With hearing aids, your brain is now receiving signals from your ears, and is re-learning how to process those sounds. It is processing every sound coming through your ears at the same level. In time, your brain will realize which sounds are important, and which are not, and focus on the important sounds, while placing the less important sounds in the background.
For instance, if you are walking along on a tile floor, your brain will realize it’s not important for you to hear every step you make, so it will focus more on the music playing in the room, and less on the sound of the footsteps.
The more hours a day you wear your hearing aids, the sooner this selective hearing will progress.
How often should I change my wax guards?
Ear wax (cerumen) production can vary from person to person, so there is no definite time period for changing wax guards. For some people, this can be one week, for others a month, and for others even longer. Generally, when the wax guards are getting full, the sound is not passing through to your ears, so that is the time to take a look at your hearing aids.
If you have silicone tips (domes) on your hearing aids, they generally become occluded with wax first, so changing or cleaning the domes with your brush may solve the problem. If you still can’t hear well after cleaning or changing the domes, then it is time to change the wax guards.
If you have custom earmolds, then change the wax guards when you are not hearing well.
If you have not changed your wax guards in accordance with the above recommendations, then change them at least every 3 months.
If changing your wax guards does not improve the hearing aids’ performance, call us at 727-584-9696 for an appointment to have your hearing aids checked.
How long should my non-rechargeable batteries last?
Non-rechargeable, or zinc-air batteries, come in a variety of sizes, depending upon the model of hearing aid. The most common sizes are:
10, which is the smallest battery available, usually used for small, completely-in-the-canal hearing aids, will last 3-5 days.*
312, which is the next size up and is the most commonly used size, will last 5-7 days.*
13, the next size larger, used for larger hearing aids, will last 7-10 days.*
*Note that these are approximate useful life estimates, as battery life will ultimately depend upon the number of hours used per day, the programming levels of the individual hearing aid, whether the aids are turned off when not in use, and whether the aids are used for streaming phone calls, TV, or computers.
Please note also, that batteries have a limited shelf life. Be sure to check the expiration date on the package before you purchase them to be certain they will last until you need to use them.
How long should my rechargeable batteries last?
If the aids are charged every night, the batteries should last for a full day’s use. The overall life span of a rechargeable battery is about three years. Note: battery life will ultimately depend upon the number of hours used per day, the programming levels of the individual hearing aid, and whether the aids are used for streaming phone calls, TV, or computers.
My family keeps telling me that I have hearing loss, but I’m not really having any difficulty. Why should I get a hearing test?
Hearing loss can be a such a slow process that we don’t notice it happening. We don’t realize how much we are really missing because we’ve become accustomed to hearing less. Also, there can be variability in our ability to hear in various situations. We may do fine in a one-on-one conversation in a quiet environment. However, we may struggle to hear conversation when there is background noise present. We may hear a man’s voice just fine, but have difficulty with women’s or children’s voices.
If you are asking people to repeat themselves, you are likely experiencing hearing loss.
The only way to be sure if you do have a hearing loss is to have a comprehensive hearing test performed by a professional. If you do have a hearing loss, then that professional can recommend an appropriate treatment.
At MedRx Hearing Center, there is no charge for a hearing screening and consultation with the Audiologist so give us a call today 727-584-9696.
I have a lot of trouble understanding conversations in noisy restaurants. What can I do?
There are several things you can do. Choose a restaurant that does not have a lot of ambient noise. Restaurants with carpeting, acoustic ceiling tiles, and upholstered furniture are much more conducive to conversations. Ask to be seated in a booth, if possible. Avoid the center of the room. Ask to be seated away from the servers’ station. Try to go at less busy times when there are fewer people to create background noise. Choose a restaurant that does not play loud music. Sit directly across from your dining partner so you can watch their face for visual cues. Ask your Audiologist about hearing aids with directional microphones that can reduce background noise.
I have tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and it’s driving me crazy. What should I do?
There are treatments for Tinnitus! Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the brain that is not being transmitted by the outer or middle ear. It can take the form of ringing in the ears, chirping, crickets, or high-pitched or low-pitched tones.
Dr. K performs thorough tinnitus evaluations using the latest audiological equipment, the MedRx Tinnometer. It provides an entirely new approach to tinnitus assessment. We are now able to determine more precisely than ever the pitch, loudness and sound quality of a patient’s tinnitus. By having a better understanding of the patient’s tinnitus, Dr. K is better able to design specific tinnitus management techniques which can help improve quality of life by reducing the effect of bothersome tinnitus.
Make an appointment with Dr. Kluzynski at MedRx Hearing Center, (727) 584-9696, for appropriate testing of your hearing and to determine proper treatment options.
I have two hearing aids. Is it okay to wear just one at a time?
“Having an ear on each side of our head—known as binaural hearing—helps the brain determine where sound is coming from, increases the range you are able to hear, and provides a more balanced, natural quality of sound. You can hear dramatically better with two ears than you can with one. That’s the main reason why hearing healthcare professionals recommend wearing two hearing aids when you have hearing loss in both ears.” Healthyhearing.com
Is it safe to clean my ears with cotton swabs?
NO! Use of cotton swabs can cause impacted earwax, damage to the ear canal, ear pain, and damage to the eardrum. Your eardrum consists of three thin layers of skin-like tissue and is very delicate. The use of cotton swabs actually pushes the wax farther into the ear canal, resulting in blockage. If the blockage is pushed so far that it touches the eardrum, it can be particularly painful and potentially damage the eardrum. Make an appointment with a professional (an ENT physician or Audiologist) for ear wax removal.
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727-584-9696
1200 Starkey Rd. Suite 105B, Largo, FL 33771
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